Review: ‘Animal House: 30th Anniversary Edition’

Thirty years later, there's not much to "Animal House" that hasn't already been dissected 20 times over.

Thirty years later, there’s not much to “Animal House” that hasn’t already been dissected 20 times over. This anniversary set is a nice reminder of how Bluto and Co. changed the way audiences looked at higher institutions of learning, and partying, but there’s little reason for consumer to pick it up if they already know all the best lines by heart.

Director John Landis narrates a “Where Are They Now?” mockumentary, which explains what all the Delta alumni have done with their lives. Actors answer in character and we learn that Babs Johnson remains a tour guide at Universal Studios; Kent “Flounder” Dorfman lives in Cleveland, was assaulted by Mike Tyson and continues to deal with weight issues; and Chip Dillard (Kevin Bacon) became a born-again Christian after seeing Jesus in his food.

Also of note: Bluto, who became a U.S. senator after leaving Faber College, went on to become president.

“The Yearbook: An Animal House Reunion” offers a retrospective of how the film came together with virtually no stars. Landis says the only reason the picture got a greenlight from Universal was because Donald Sutherland agreed to what was essentially an oversized cameo as Prof. Dave Jennings.

Almost all of the writers, executives and cast — Thomas Hulce is noticeably absent — offer their takes on how surprised they were when the movie became a worldwide hit. Bacon, then a relatively inexperienced actor, was so naive that he thought getting paid “scale” meant he needed to weigh in before production began.